Knitting Gifts: The Ashbury Mitt Kit!

Gift knitting is one of the pleasures of fall. I plan out small projects for people on my gift list—and I hope they're not reading this!

The Ashbury Mitts by Simona Merchant-Dest

For my mom, it's a fur-edged cowl that I've already finished. For my sister, a slouchy hat. For my brother, one of his favorite Koolhaas Hats (in a different color than the last one; he loves them!). For my dad, a simple hat made with bulky yarn. He likes them long, to cover his ears. Maybe this year I'll add some earflaps.

For my nephew, something Star Wars-y. Maybe R2D2 mittens, if I can find a pattern. I knit him an R2D2 hat last year and he was thrilled with it. He also loved his Harry Potter house sweater, but I think he's more into Star Wars lately. It goes back and forth between Harry and Star Wars.

For my sister-in-law, some fingerless mitts. She's a teacher and her room is chilly in the winter, but she needs her fingers free for all of the activities she does with the little kids in her classroom.

Speaking of fingerless mitts, there's a new kit in town, yes kit, and it's a pairing of beautiful Bijou Basin Lhasa Wilderness yarn, which is a luscious blend of yak and bamboo, along with the Ashbury Mitts pattern by Simona Merchant-Dest.

Heart detail from the Ashbury Mitts

What I love about this pattern is the heart design. It's subtle, really, because of the combination of the bobbles and the yarnovers in the lace; the pattern looks like an arrangement of beautiful Vs going up the arms. But really, the design is lace heart shapes studded with miniature bobbles. Very beautiful.

I'll bet you have someone on your gift list who would love the Ashbury Mitts. Or, maybe you're giving a gift to one of your knitting friends—this kit is so perfect for that!